Water is critical for life and is integral to virtually all economic activities, including food production and industry. Not only is clean water a prerequisite for human health and well-being, it provides aquatic habitats that support healthy freshwater ecosystems.

Reliable, relevant, targeted and
timely environmental information is
an essential element in implementing
environmental policy and management
processes. Such information can come
in many formats — with indicators
being a long-established approach
to distilling detailed information into
trends that are robust and easily
understandable by a broad audience.

Many developing country economies are centred on exploiting natural resources to lift their populations out of poverty, potentially damaging the natural systems they depend on. Short-term solutions often undermine the population’s well-being in the long-term. Can governments help the markets set the ‘right’ price for nature’s services and influence economic choices? Here is a closer look at what water use in cotton production means for Burkina Faso.

Europe needs to redouble efforts in using water more efficiently to avoid undermining its economy, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). Inefficient water use impacts hard on the resources needed by ecosystems and people, both vital assets for European productivity and security.

This report makes the case for an integrated water management, starting with better implementation of existing legislation. Clean water is a vitally important natural resource,
demanding careful management. It is essential for
life and integral to virtually all economic activities,
including producing food, energy and industrial
outputs. The availability of clean water in sufficient
quantities is not only a prerequisite for human health
and well-being but also essential for freshwater
ecosystems and the many services that they provide.